Canberrans have fewer children, but tend to live longer and earn more compared to the rest of the country, according to a new publication about the ACT released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The publication, Australian Capital Territory in Focus, 2007, also found that ACT residents were the most sporting in the nation with the highest rate of participation in sports and physical recreation (80% in 2005-06, compared with 66% nationally).

Highlights from Australian Capital Territory in Focus include:

Canberra women had the lowest total fertility rate of the nation (1.65 births per woman in 2005, compared with 1.81 births per woman nationally).

ACT residents have a higher life expectancy at birth than residents of other states and territories. A boy born in the ACT in 2005 could expect to live to 79.9 years (78.5 years nationally) and a girl born in the ACT to 84.0 years (83.3 years nationally).

ACT residents have the second highest labour force participation rate of any state or territory (72.5% in trend terms in September 2007, compared to 65.0% nationally) just behind the Northern Territory (73.5%).

Full-time employees in the ACT have the highest average weekly earnings nationally ($1,288 in trend terms in May 2007, compared with $1,088 nationally).

Just over 88% of employing businesses in the ACT had less than 20 employees. Of the 24,000 ACT businesses at June 2005, 9,800 (41%) were employing businesses and 14,200 (59%) were non-employing businesses.

Canberra had the highest median weekly rent for three bedroom houses of any capital city ($330) during the December quarter 2006.

Nine out of ten ACT residents (aged 15 years and over) attended at least one cultural venue or event in 2005-06 - the highest attendance rates of the nation (90% in the ACT compared to 85% nationally). Going to the cinema was the most favourite activity (71% attendance rate compared to 65% nationally).

Last year was the hottest on record for the ACT. It was also sunnier than usual, with an average of 8.5 hours of sunshine per day, compared with a long-term average of 7.6 hours.

Further information on Australian Capital Territory in Focus, 2007 (cat. no. 1307.8).

Media note: This publication uses 2005 fertility and life expectancy data however the recently released 2006 figures present a similar picture of the ACT.

Unless otherwise noted, content on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia Licence together with any terms, conditions and exclusions as set out in the website Copyright notice. For permission to do anything beyond the scope of this licence and copyright terms contact us.